Mary Adshead

ARTIST

Adshead, Mary

1904 – 1995

Mary Adshead studied at the Slade School of Fine Art (1920’24)
under Henry Tonks (1862’1937), who in 1924 selected her for a
mural commission at Highways boys’ club in Shadwell, working
with Rex Whistler (1905’1944). 

She became a prominent muralist, creating decorations for
both public and private spaces, including the British Pavilion at
the 1937 Paris International Exhibition. She also illustrated several
books, such as The Little Boy and His House by Stephen Bone
(1904’1958) (whom she married in 1929), and made designs for
London Transport and the Post Office. 

As a noteworthy female artist, Adshead exhibited frequently
at the WIAC from the mid ‘1930s, before serving on their
committee in 1951. Working at a time when expectations of
women were still largely confined to issues of domesticity, her
prodigious professional output was noteworthy. Her approach to
mural painting ‘ especially in her choice of subjects and her colourful
palette ‘ challenged the perceived divisions which determined that
public and private spaces should necessarily be treated differently. She
was the subject of a retrospective at Liverpool Art Gallery in 2005.

+ Follow works by this artist
+ Share Artist

Mary Adshead

ARTIST

Adshead, Mary

1904 – 1995

Mary Adshead studied at the Slade School of Fine Art (1920’24)
under Henry Tonks (1862’1937), who in 1924 selected her for a
mural commission at Highways boys’ club in Shadwell, working
with Rex Whistler (1905’1944). 

She became a prominent muralist, creating decorations for
both public and private spaces, including the British Pavilion at
the 1937 Paris International Exhibition. She also illustrated several
books, such as The Little Boy and His House by Stephen Bone
(1904’1958) (whom she married in 1929), and made designs for
London Transport and the Post Office. 

As a noteworthy female artist, Adshead exhibited frequently
at the WIAC from the mid ‘1930s, before serving on their
committee in 1951. Working at a time when expectations of
women were still largely confined to issues of domesticity, her
prodigious professional output was noteworthy. Her approach to
mural painting ‘ especially in her choice of subjects and her colourful
palette ‘ challenged the perceived divisions which determined that
public and private spaces should necessarily be treated differently. She
was the subject of a retrospective at Liverpool Art Gallery in 2005.

+ Follow works by this artist
+ Share Artist

ARTWORK FOR SALE

SKU: 11841

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Cae Nest Farm Llanbedr

£1,775.00

SKU: 9433

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

A Good Answer

£925.00

SKU: 9434

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

An Unpleasant Surprise

£995.00

Reserved
SKU: 9429

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

John’s House
SKU: 9430

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Lucky Day

£1,175.00

SKU: 9425

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Evening Primroses in a London Garden

£875.00

SKU: 9139

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Livestock Market, (recto) Picking Tealeaves (verso), circa 1930

£3,500.00

SKU: 9140

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

The Little Boy and His House, 1936

£1,375.00

SKU: 8348

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Finnial decorations

£875.00

SKU: 7759

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Gladstone & Venus, 1931

£1,950.00

SKU: 7303

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

St Tropez, c. 1931

£2,500.00

SKU: 6969

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Have a Happy Christmas 1983

£195.00

SKU: 5978

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Lunette design for a school mural, 1930’s

£2,300.00

SKU: 5501

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Garison Lane Nursery Training School, circa 1930

£1,400.00

SKU: 5282

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Farmers ploughing, Study for The World’s Food mural, c. 1942

£1,100.00

ARCHIVED WORKS

Sold
SKU: 35

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

View from the rock, Ffestiniog
Sold
SKU: 11310

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Portrait of a Woman Knitting
Sold
SKU: 11289

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

On the Beach
Sold
SKU: 9432

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

A Walk
Sold
SKU: 9431

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Honey Bears
Sold
SKU: 9427

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Tom The Sailor
Sold
SKU: 9428

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Late again!
Sold
SKU: 9426

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

The Gong
Sold
SKU: 8462

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

The Bone Family partaking in the Nativity, 1932
Sold
SKU: 8349

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Thatching a cottage roof, from The Little Boy and His House, 1936
Sold
SKU: 7281

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Fete champetre
Sold
SKU: 6222

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Christmas Greetings – houses in snow
Sold
SKU: 5827

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Christmas Card 1954
Sold
SKU: 5812

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

The First Bow And Arrow, circa 1928
Sold
SKU: 5781

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

A Greek Soldier, c. 1928, illustration for The House of History
Sold
SKU: 5783

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

A Caravan Inn, c. 1928, illustration for The House of History
Sold
SKU: 5658

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Looking Down The Road
Sold
SKU: 5540

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Romulus and Remus, c. 1928, illustration for The House of History
Sold
SKU: 5541

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

The Great Wall of China, c. 1928, illustration for The House of History
Sold
SKU: 5491

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Still life with stripey table cloth, circa 1960
Sold
SKU: 5402

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Study for mural for tea room, Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire, c.1949
Sold
SKU: 5401

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Clown training a circus monkey and two horses, c. 1940
Sold
SKU: 5283

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)

Portrait fragment – woman with hair dessed with olive leaves, circa 1930